STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Gill Ranch Storage, LLC
Gill Ranch Gas Storage Project

Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of proposed construction and operation of Gill Ranch Gas Storage Project (the Project). Applications for this Project were submitted to the CPUC on July 29, 2008 (Application 08-07-032 and Application 08-07-033). This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review process.

Background

Introduction

Gill Ranch Storage, LLC (GRS) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) (Applicants) have filed applications with the CPUC to construct and operate the Project. The CPUC is the CEQA lead agency for the Project.

Project Elements
The Project, as proposed by GRS and PG&E, would provide additional natural gas storage capacity to help meet the energy needs of California customers, as called for by statewide natural gas policies requiring reliable, efficient, and cost–effective provision of natural gas services. There is a strong market demand for additional gas storage in California. The Project would include construction and operation of several key components:

Location

Figure 1.1-1 (5.6 MB) shows the Project location. The town of Firebaugh, California is located approximately 8 miles southeast of the field.

Figure 2.1-1 (7.7 MB) provides an overview of the location of the Project facilities.

Storage Field, Wells, and Compressor
The Storage Field (including the IW wells, OM wells, salt water disposal well, and the compressor station) is located primarily in western Madera County. A portion of the field crosses under the San Joaquin River into Fresno County.

Pipeline
An approximate 27-mile, 30-inch diameter gas transmission pipeline would be constructed between PG&E’s existing line 401 near Interstate 5 and the compressor site, which would be located near the center of the Storage Field reservoirs. Approximately 25 miles of pipeline would be located in Fresno County, and approximately 2 miles would be located in Madera County. The pipeline would pass approximately 2 miles south of the Town of Mendota.

Electric Power Line
An approximately 9.3-mile electric power line would be constructed between PG&E’s existing Dairyland-Mendota 115-kV power line on Avenue 7½ and the Storage Field central compressor station site. The power line would be entirely in Madera County. The proposed power line corridor would begin at a point on Avenue 7½ located approximately 5 miles east of the town of Firebaugh; run westerly on Avenue 7 ½ and Avenue 7; turn southerly along the Chowchilla Canal Road; span the canal; and, continue easterly along Avenue 3 between Chowchilla Canal and the central compressor station. The new power line would be located within established utility corridors.

Substation
A new electric substation would be located at the compressor station site in Madera County.

Schedule

If the Project is approved, the Applicants would like to begin construction during November of 2009 and complete construction during the summer of 2010. The intent is to have the Project begin operation in time to meet the traditionally higher fall and winter demand for natural gas.

Project Description

Storage Field
The proposed Project would utilize depleted reservoirs in an existing natural gas production field, known as the Gill Ranch Gas Field (Gas Field), located approximately 20 miles west of Fresno, 10 miles east of the Town of Mendota. The Project is designed for 20 Bcf of working gas with 650 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) of peak deliverability.

The Gas Field was discovered in 1942, and production began in 1943 from the Domengine/Kreyenhagen formations. Production from the Starkey Formation began in 1957, and ceased in 1996. Minor gas production continues from two wells completed in the Kreyenhagen and Moreno formations, located above the proposed storage field formations.

The Gas Field consists of several geologically separate reservoirs. The First and Second sands of the Starkey Formation lie at depths of 5,700 to 6,300 feet below ground surface, and contain the depleted reservoirs that are proposed to be developed for storage.

The total acreage for surface facilities within the Storage Field (including compressor station and IW wells, OM wells, salt-water disposal well, and compressor station) would be approximately 22 acres (including 10 acres for the central compression facility, and approximately 12 acres for the well pads). Each IW well pad would measure 300 feet by 250 feet (approximately 1.7 acres) for a total of 6.8 acres. Each OM well pad would measure 150 feet by 200 feet (0.7 acres) for a total of 4.8 acres.

Wells and Pipelines
The Project would include new high deliverability IW wells, wellhead surface facilities, and gathering pipelines from each well pad. Up to 15 new IW wells distributed over 4 well pads would be drilled in 3 separate reservoirs. Existing well sites would be used to the extent practical. One Project-related well would be located in Fresno County.

Up to eight new OM wells distributed over eight well pads would be drilled into the storage formations, outside of the active working gas portion of the reservoirs. One salt-water disposal well would be constructed to properly dispose of water from the IW wells during withdrawal operations.

Central Compressor and Operating Facility
The operating facility and compressor would be located near the center of the Project area. The facilities would be located on a 10-acre site and would include:

Control room

Approximately 45,000 brake horsepower (BHP) compressor station with electric motors

Gas dehydration and processing equipment

Flow and pressure equipment

Metering

Communication equipment

Maintenance facility

Electric substation

Salt water disposal well

Gas Pipeline
An approximately 27-mile, 30-inch diameter bi-directional gas transmission pipeline would be constructed between PG&E’s existing Line 401 near Interstate 5 and the proposed compressor station site. The pipeline would transport up to 650 MMcfd.

The easement for the pipeline would be approximately 95 feet, with a permanent post-construction easement of 50 feet, and a temporary construction easement of 45 feet. The pipeline would be buried at a depth of 5 feet from the top of the pipe to the ground surface. The pipeline would be constructed under the California Aqueduct, Fresno Slough, San Joaquin River, and Chowchilla Canal using horizontal directional drilling techniques.

The area disturbed for the construction of the pipeline would be approximately 300 acres. This area would largely be returned to its present uses, with minor exceptions (e.g., where orchard trees must maintain a 20-foot clear inspection area centered over the top of the pipe).

Gill Ranch would have 75% ownership of the pipeline, and PG&E would have 25% ownership of the pipeline.

Electric Power Line
An approximately 9.3-mile electric power line would be constructed between PG&E’s existing Dairyland-Mendota 115-kV power line on Avenue 7½ and the Storage Field central compressor station site. Approximately 4.3 miles of the new power line would be installed by replacing old poles with new wood poles in existing PG&E electric distribution line corridors. The existing wood poles are 40 to 50 feet above ground and would be replaced with similar single and wider circuit wood poles that would be 60 to 70 feet above ground.

No power lines or electric distribution lines currently exist along approximately 1 mile of the proposed power line route along Avenue 7½. PG&E would construct the new wood pole power line in public road rights-of-way where PG&E currently has a franchise authorizing it to operate; however, there may be a necessity to acquire additional land rights, pending final engineering. The amount of land disturbance required for the power line has not yet been determined; however, the maximum total final footprint of the power line poles would be approximately 0.015 ac (assuming a maximum footprint of 4 square ft for each of the 162 poles). PG&E would own and operate the power line.

Substation
An electric substation would be constructed at the compressor station. The substation would reduce the voltage of the electricity from the 115-kV power line for use at the compressor station, dehydration facility, and other locations. The substation would have two transformer bays fed from two connections (taps) to the power line. The substation is designed to allow expansion without requiring additional upgrades to the substation.

The substation yard would be approximately 120 feet by 200 feet (approximately 0.55 acres) on the existing road. The substation would be secured by a 9-foot chain link fence with razor wire on top. PG&E would own and operate the substation.

Existing Land Uses

The Project areas within Madera County are designated Agriculture Exclusive in the Madera County General Plan. This designation provides for agricultural uses, limited agricultural support service uses, agriculturally oriented services, timber production, mineral extraction, airstrips, public and commercial refuse disposal sites, recreational uses, public and quasi-public uses, and similar and compatible uses.

The Project areas within Fresno County are designated Agriculture in the Fresno County General Plan. The agricultural designation provides for a variety of agricultural activities, and certain nonagricultural activities (including the project facilities) are allowed with a special permit.

Storage Field
The approximately 5,020-acre Storage Field area is within an established gas field, the Gill Ranch Gas Field. Limited gas production occurs at the gas field today.

Properties within the proposed Project Area over the Storage Field are in active agricultural production (row crops, orchard, and vineyard). Existing gaswell pads and related facilities are located throughout the Storage Field. A prefabricated steel farm building was recently erected near the center of the Storage Field. There is one occupied residence within the boundary of the Storage Field area, located near the south bank of the San Joaquin River in the southeastern portion of the Storage Field. Nine parcels would be involved in the Storage Field facilities. The San Joaquin River passes through the southeastern portion of the Storage Field.

Gas Pipeline
Land uses along the pipeline corridor are primarily agriculture or agricultural processing facilities. Other land uses adjacent to the pipeline corridor include the Mendota Wildlife Management Area and the Alkali Sink Ecological Reserve. The pipeline would avoid construction in both of these areas.

The pipeline alignment would cross under several surface water features, including the California Aqueduct, Fresno Slough, San Joaquin River and Chowchilla Canal. Agricultural ponds, canals, and irrigation ditches are also located at several locations on or near the alignment.

Electric Power LineThe land uses surrounding the electric power line route are primarily used for agricultural production. There are no residences or commercial uses along the power line route. The new power line connecting the compression facility to the Dairyland-Mendota 115-kV power line would be located within established corridors that already contain PG&E facilities (electric distribution line corridors) and roadways. Approximately 1 mile of new power line will be constructed along county roads where there are currently no electric distribution facilities.

Application and Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (PEA)

The application and PEA for the Gill Ranch Gas Storage Project may be viewed here.

Other Documents Available

The First PEA deficiency letter was mailed by the CPUC on September 25, 2008 and can be viewed here.

The Second deficiency letter was mailed by the CPUC on October 24, 2008 and can be viewed here.

Application deemed complete on November 7, 2008. Letter can be viewed here.

Environmental Review

On September 14, 2009, the CPUC prepared a Final Mitigated Negative Declaration (Final MND) under CEQA for consideration of the Gill Ranch Gas Storage Project. The information in the Final MND describes the Proposed Project, describes the potential environmental impacts, identifies those impacts that could be significant, and presents mitigation measures to avoid or minimize potentially significant impacts.

The Final IS/MND incorporates all comments received during the public review period for the Draft IS/MND, as well as revisions discussed and agreed upon during various discussions with the applicants and the CPUC. The responses to comments are provided in Appendix J of the Final IS/MND, and includes an Errata that describes changes from the Draft IS/MND to the Final IS/MND. No substantial changes to the environmental document analyses or conclusions resulted from evaluation of the comments received during the public review period. No substantial revisions that would merit recirculation as defined by 15073.5(b) of Title 14 of CEQA were made to the project or analyses after public comment.

CPUC Actions After Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) PublicationThere is no comment period following issuance of the Final IS/MND. The CPUC will determine the adequacy of the Final IS/MND, and, if adequate, will adopt the document as being compliant with CEQA. If adequate, the CPUC will issue a Proposed Decision on the Application, which will be announced and published concurrent with a scheduled Commission meeting. After the Commission makes the decision on the Application, a Notice of Determination will be mailed to the State Clearinghouse within 5 days of the Decision. The 30-day statute of limitations for court challenges begins after the Notice of Determination is filed.

Draft IS/MND Publication
On July 16, 2009, the CPUC released a Notice of Intent to Adopt a MND for the Gill Ranch Gas Storage Project, showing that the proposed Project, as mitigated, would not have any significant effects on the environment.

For Additional Information

The CPUC, through its Environmental
Review Team, is conducting an environmental
review of the Project. To request additional information or to be added to the mailing list, please contact us by email, fax, or phone, as follows: